The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

The Element shows the vital need to enhance creativity and innovation by thinking differently about human resources and imagination. It is an essential strategy for transforming education, business, and communities to meet the challenges of living and succeeding in the 21st century.

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Daring Greatly by Brené Brown, read by Karen White. Every time we are introduced to someone new, try to be creative, or start a difficult conversation, we take a risk. We feel uncertain and exposed. We feel vulnerable. Most of us try to fight those feelings - we strive to appear perfect. In a powerful new vision, Dr. Brené Brown challenges everything we think we know about vulnerability and dispels the widely accepted myth that it's a weakness.

The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies

In recent years, Google's autonomous cars have logged thousands of miles on American highways and IBM's Watson trounced the best human Jeopardy! players. Digital technologies - with hardware, software, and networks at their core - will in the near future diagnose diseases more accurately than doctors can, apply enormous data sets to transform retailing, and accomplish many tasks once considered uniquely human.

Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics

Richard H. Thaler has spent his career studying the radical notion that the central agents in the economy are humans - predictable, error-prone individuals. Misbehaving is his arresting, frequently hilarious account of the struggle to bring an academic discipline back down to earth - and change the way we think about economics, ourselves, and our world.

Originals: How Non-Conformists Change the World

The New York Times best-selling author examines how people can drive creative, moral and organisational progress - and how leaders can encourage originality in their organisations. How can we originate new ideas, policies and practices without risking it all? Adam Grant shows how to improve the world by championing novel ideas and values that go against the grain, battling conformity and bucking outdated traditions.

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

Mindset is one of those rare audio books that can help you make positive changes in your life and at the same time see the world in a new way. A leading expert in motivation and personality psychology, Carol Dweck has discovered in more than 20 years of research that our mindset is not a minor personality quirk: it creates our whole mental world. It explains how we become optimistic or pessimistic. It shapes our goals, our attitude toward work, and ultimately predicts whether or not we will fulfull our potential.

The Hero with a Thousand Faces

Since its release in 1949, The Hero with a Thousand Faces has influenced millions of readers by combining the insights of modern psychology with Joseph Campbell's revolutionary understanding of comparative mythology. In this book, Campbell outlines the Hero's Journey, a universal motif of adventure and transformation that runs through virtually all of the world's mythic traditions. He also explores the Cosmogonic Cycle, the mythic pattern of world creation and destruction.

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

Listeners of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration from Elizabeth Gilbert's books for years. Now this beloved author shares her wisdom and unique understanding of creativity, shattering the perceptions of mystery and suffering that surround the process - and showing us all just how easy it can be. By sharing stories from her own life as well as from her friends and the people who have inspired her, Elizabeth Gilbert challenges us to embrace our curiosity....

Leap First: Creating Work That Matters

Recorded in an intimate gathering of aspiring entrepreneurs, writers, and leaders, Leap First teaches us 49 essential principles, practices, and life lessons that have helped Seth the most in his own work and life. More than an audiobook or keynote speech, each track here presents a carefully chosen catalyst intended to trigger our own passion and insight with each listening.

The Brain: The Story of You

This is the story of how your life shapes your brain and how your brain shapes your life. Locked in the silence and darkness of your skull, the brain fashions the rich narratives of your reality and your identity. Join renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman for a journey into the questions at the heart of our existence. What is reality? Who are 'you'? How do you make decisions? Why does your brain need other people? How is technology poised to change what it means to be human?

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

Popular blogger Cal Newport reveals the new key to achieving success and true meaning in professional life: the ability to master distraction. Many modern knowledge workers now spend most of their brain power battling distraction and interruption, whether because of the incessant pinging of devices, noisy open-plan offices or the difficulty of deciding what deserves their attention the most. When Cal Newport coined the term deep work on his popular blog, Study Hacks, in 2012, he found the concept quickly hit a nerve.

Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success

Few things in life are more satisfying than beating a rival. We love to win and hate to lose, whether it's on the playing field or at the ballot box, in the office or in the classroom. In this bold new look at human behavior, award-winning journalist and Olympian Matthew Syed explores the truth about our competitive nature: why we win, why we don't, and how we really play the game of life.

Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain

Why can your foot move halfway to the brake pedal before you're consciously aware of danger? Why do you notice when your name is mentioned in a conversation that you didn't think you were listening to? Why are people whose name begins with J more likely to marry other people whose name begins with J? Why is it so difficult to keep a secret? Renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman navigates the depths of the subconscious brain to illuminate these surprising mysteries.

Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise

Anders Ericsson has spent 30 years studying the special ones - the geniuses, sports stars and musical prodigies. And his remarkable finding, revealed in Peak, is that their special abilities are acquired through training. The innate 'gift' of talent is a myth. Exceptional individuals are born with just one unique ability, shared by us all - the ability to develop our brains and bodies through our own efforts.

The Elements of Eloquence

In an age unhealthily obsessed with substance, this is a book on the importance of pure style, from the best-selling author of The Etymologicon and The Horologicon. From classic poetry to pop lyrics and from the King James Bible to advertising slogans, Mark Forsyth explains the secrets that make a phrase - such as 'Tiger, Tiger, burning bright', or 'To be or not to be' - memorable. In his inimitably entertaining and witty style he takes apart famous lines and shows how you, too, can write like Shakespeare or Oscar Wilde.

Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want

Each of us has but one life to live on this earth. What we do with it is our choice. Are we drifting through it as spectators, reacting to our circumstances when necessary and wondering just how we got to this point anyway? Or are we directing it, maximizing the joy and potential of every day, living with a purpose or mission in mind? Too many of us are doing the former - and our lives are slipping away one day at a time. But what if we treated life like the gift that it is? What if we lived each day as though it was part of a bigger picture, a plan?

Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies

Superintelligence asks the questions: What happens when machines surpass humans in general intelligence? Will artificial agents save or destroy us? Nick Bostrom lays the foundation for understanding the future of humanity and intelligent life. The human brain has some capabilities that the brains of other animals lack. It is to these distinctive capabilities that our species owes its dominant position. If machine brains surpassed human brains in general intelligence, then this new superintelligence could become extremely powerful - possibly beyond our control.

The Diet Myth: The Real Science Behind What We Eat

We are all increasingly bewildered by the simple question of what to eat. Despite advice from experts, governments and dieticians about the dangers of too much fat, sugar, protein and lack of exercise, our nutrition - and the global obesity crisis - is getting worse. Why can one person eat a certain meal and gain weight and another eat exactly the same food and lose pounds? Genes provide part of the answer, but we have been overlooking one vital aspect of diet that lies within us.

Publisher's Summary

There is a paradox. As children, most of us think we are highly creative; as adults many of us think we are not. What changes as children grow up? Organizations across the globe are competing in a world that is changing faster than ever. They say they need people who can think creatively, who are flexible and quick to adapt. Too often they can't find them. Why not? In this provocative and inspiring book, Ken Robinson addresses three vital questions:

Why is it essential to promote creativity? Business leaders, politicians and educators emphasize the vital importance of promoting creativity and innovation. Why does this matter so much?

What is the problem? Why do so many people think they're not creative? Young children are buzzing with ideas. What happens as we grow up and go through school to make us think we are not creative?

What can be done about it? What is creativity? What can companies, schools and organizations do to develop creativity and innovation in a deliberate and systematic way?

In this extensively revised and updated version of his best-selling classic, Ken Robinson offers a groundbreaking approach to understanding creativity in education and in business. He argues that people and organizations everywhere are dealing with problems that originate in schools and universities and that many people leave education with no idea at all of their real creative abilities. Out of Our Minds is a passionate and powerful call for radically different approaches to leadership, teaching and professional development to help us all to meet the extraordinary challenges of living and working in the 21st century.

I loved this book. If you think you aren't creative, Ken Robinson can show you how wrong you are. Lots of stories illustrate the main ideas. All of them interesting and well told. John Lee is easy on the ears, although the pace is sometimes a bit breathless. This is an audiobook I'll revisit a couple of times and buy the paperback too so I can make copious notes. The only reason I didn't rate it 5 star is that it is so packed with information I found I had to stop and digest it from time to time. I had to focus & couldn't just have it on while I did other stuff.

It does not give you the grail, but analyses what can taker it away what you had born with.It is a comprehensive guide why education creates a restrictive mindset which needed to be expanded to achieve significant success in life.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I liked the positive examples of good education practices, explaining their approach and methodology. However despite being very informative, had not given a ready cookbook as an entrepreneur, as a parent to go forwards, only the chance of better appreciation and decision capabilities to use.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Ideally would go through such interesting topics over the weekend in 2 maximum 3 parts, however worked pretty well used in daily commute towards office and back home in minimum 1 hour parts.

Any additional comments?

Would welcome bit more great examples outside of the US and Great Britain areas in the next edition.

This has brought home to me how crucial the choice of narrator is in the production of an audio book. There's a massive amount of good material to go through in this book but I really struggled to get to the end of it. Why? Not because of the writing, but because of the narrator. The writing is often quite humorous and talks from a personal perspective. If Ken had narrated this it would have been an authentic and more enjoyable listen. Also, with all respect to John Lee, his delivery is a bit 'stiff' making any humour fall flat, thereby reducing the impact of the writing.

It would take considerable creative imagination to consider this to be anything but an overview of the authors opinions on education and industry. Absolutely of no value to me at all, other than as an aid to sleep.

Am on my second listen and am still struggling to get through this. Sir Ken Robinson's work is fascinating as usual, but I am totally put off by the narrator. The narration is flat and clinical. I find my mind wandering when I listen to this narrator. He reads with all the feeling of the electronic voice in the Atlanta airport trains. I am sure this book has much to offer, but the narration makes it seem more like a text book ... and we all know how fascinating those are. In light of the narration, I would recommend the print edition.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Richard

Fort Collins, CO, United States

03/11/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Draaaaaaaag"

I don't write many reviews and I enjoyed watching Ken Robinson's discussion with Eckhart Tolle. His presence was wonderful. This book was mentioned and I decided to download the Audible version. I am into chapter 3 and the ceaseless story of numbers, how powerful computers are and will be, along with the population growth is WAY OVER THE TOP!!!

OK, enough with this nonsense! If it continues much longer I will change my review to ZERO stars and request a refund.

What was his editor thinking?!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

husky

Bazas, France

09/12/11

Overall

Performance

Story

"Not as creative as expected"

I already knew that schools and other institutions discourage creativity. I bought this audiobook to get a better understanding of how this phenomenum works. His definition of creativiy is not original, and his points can all be found in other books with better explanations to them.It's OK to listen to this if you have nothing else. He does provide a few jokes and interesting stories.

Oh, and I should mention that I've stopped listening to it an hour from the end.

6 of 9 people found this review helpful

James

05/05/12

Overall

Performance

Story

"Terrible narration. Unlistenable."

What would have made Out of Our Minds better?

If the reader read the words with an emphasis that enforced their meaning instead of contradicting it.

What was most disappointing about Ken Robinson’s story?

I'm sure this book is great - I'm a fan of Robinson - but I found it impossible to concentrate on this because it was so badly read.

Would you be willing to try another one of John Lee’s performances?

Absolutely not.

What character would you cut from Out of Our Minds?

N/A

Any additional comments?

My first purchase on Audible and extremely disappointing.

4 of 6 people found this review helpful

vasilios

perth, australia

04/02/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Disappointing"

Would you try another book from Ken Robinson and/or John Lee?

I would think twice about trying another book by either the author and/or the reader. The content was too lightweight and general and the reading did not capture the spirit of the author, his style, or humour.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator mispronounced too many words and also misunderstood the rhythm and stress of the author's speech style.

Do you think Out of Our Minds needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, I'm afraid the content was too general to be engaging. It took a long time to develop towards the deeper ideas that emerged towards the latter sections of the book. Too much trivia and google-search facts in the early stages.

Any additional comments?

Quite frustrating if you appreciate that creativity is a serious topic that can be explored at depth. This was a popularised conception that actually clouded the subject as much as shed light on it. A missed opportunity at so many levels.

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

Elisabeth

02/12/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"insightful text"

this book was very insightful when it came to matters of creativity. the one critique that I have about this book is that the author has a roundabout way of making his point which can lose my attention at times. other than that I greatly admire this author and his work in this book. His values align with my own as far as imbuing education with more creative outlets

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Bex Brown

23/11/16

Overall

"Brilliant"

This book should be compulsory reading for anyone involved in any type of education. Thought provoking and thoroughly worth the read. I have, and will continue, to recommend this to friends, family, and peers.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Amazon Customer

31/03/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"The Bible for all teachers"

The answers for our future is being revealed. Reasons for the matter of education, as our only sustainable world wide resource is being put in to a fact! We have to get out of our minds, and make stars around us!

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Patricia Sanderlin

Houston, TX United States

03/06/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Philosophy on the need for creativity in learning"

Very philosophical and long drawn out argument about why education should consider creativity. The title is misleading, as an individual, I didn't learn anything. The book should be called: creativity in learning and its importance.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

A-reader

09/03/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Amazing and well researched!"

Great resource! I am sure I'll listen to it again... And again...I highly recommend anyone to listen to this book.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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